England head coach Stuart Lancaster is due to name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.

The second-row pairing in the tournament opener against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 6 February is set to come from the trio of Dave Attwood, George Kruis and Geoff Parling, with the latter fit again having missed November's Tests because of injury.

England Six Nations fixtures

6 Feb: Wales v England, 20:05 GMT

14 Feb: England v Italy, 14:30 GMT

1 Mar: Ireland v England, 15:00 GMT

14 Mar: England v Scotland, 17:00 GMT

21 Mar: England v France, 17:00 GMT

"It is just a little bit of bone that chipped off Courtney's ankle in the Leicester game," Mallinder added. "He would be expected to get back playing while the Six Nations is still going on.

"It is a blow for us because we haven't got him for next week, and it is a blow for him and England because he is a key player."

Lawes' absence is another setback for Lancaster, who is already without Gloucester number eight Morgan for the whole of the the Six Nations after he fractured his left leg against Saracens on 9 January.